This past week has been an incredibly successful week for Hopkins sports! As we approach NCAA tournament play, here are some of the highlights of the weekend for our Blue Jays.
Women’s basketball (WBB) clinched NCAA tournament appearance
Though they fell to Gettysburg College in the Centennial Title Game on Sunday, the Johns Hopkins women's basketball team secured an at-large bid to the 2024 Division III NCAA Championships, marking their 14th postseason appearance. Despite a recent loss in the conference tournament, they earned the bid with a strong regular season record. They'll face Marietta College in the first round, a team known for its balanced offense, on Friday, March 1 at 5:45 pm. The winner will play on Saturday against the winner of the University of Mount Saint Vincent versus Christopher Newport University game.
Men’s basketball (MBB) falls in Centennial Conference championship
Swarthmore College defeated Johns Hopkins 67-62 in the Centennial Conference men's basketball championship game on Sunday. Hopkins made a late rally, coming within four points with seven minutes left. However, Swarthmore maintained control. Brian Johansson led Hopkins with 14 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the opposition’s strong performance. Unfortunately, the men’s team did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament, but with a record of 20-7 (.741), this marks the 12th consecutive winning season for the Blue Jays.
Men’s Tennis (MTEN) defeated NC Wesley to remain undefeated
The 14th-ranked Hopkins men's tennis team staged an epic comeback to defeat 26th-ranked North Carolina Wesleyan University 5-4, maintaining their unbeaten record of 3-0. NC Wesleyan initially took a 2-0 lead, but Hopkins fought back in doubles, winning the first point. In singles, Hopkins secured the victory by winning the final three matches, with junior Marco Azar clinching the comeback with a win in the third set. The Blue Jays' next match is against Washington & Lee University on March 9.
Track and Field (T&F) men’s and women’s teams win Centennial Conference championship
The Johns Hopkins men’s and women's track & field team secured their 11th and 13th consecutive Centennial title. The women’s team accumulated 310 points, the second-highest tally in championship history. Junior jumper and sprinter Victoria Kadiri won multiple events and set records, while her teammates dominated various events including field events and distance races. The men's team won by a narrow margin of five points, with notable performances across events and a strong finish in the 3000m securing their victory. Both teams will compete next in the Tufts Final Qualifier on March 2.
Women’s Fencing (WFENCE) upset ninth-ranked Temple
The Johns Hopkins women's fencing team achieved an upset victory against ninth-ranked Temple University at the Owls's home invitational, going 1-4 against a slate of five ranked Division I teams. Despite facing tough competition, Hopkins put up strong performances, with standout victories from sabres Josephine Chang, Lauren Prieur and Victoria Li. Although they faced losses against top-ranked opponents like the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University, Hopkins managed to secure wins against St. John's University and Temple to end the day on a positive note.
Men’s Fencing (MFENCE) defeated Stevens at the Temple Invitational
The Johns Hopkins men's fencing team competed against tough Division I opponents as well at the Temple Invitational, securing one victory against the Stevens Ducks, 21-6. Despite facing ranked teams like Pennsylvania State, St. John's and Penn, Hopkins showcased strong performances with notable wins from Qilin Tong, Spencer Grossman Smisek and Anthony Bae. The team also had close matches throughout the day, with standout performances from Matthew Dao, Ethan Insler and Larry Cai. Hopkins will next compete at the MACFA Championships on Sunday, March 3.
Men’s Baseball defeated Rutgers-Newark in the season opener; starts the year 1-2
Baseball season is underway. The Johns Hopkins baseball team began their 2024 season with a 7-0 shutout victory against Rutgers University-Newark on Friday. They lost their last two games but have an eventful week ahead with a double-header on Saturday against the University of Scranton.
